Charlton Athletic 3 Aston Villa 0

Last updated : 25 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

If the opening day defeat at Bolton was "disgusting" and Saturday's win over Portsmouth was "hard earned", Alan Curbishley might finally be able to break open some more pleasing adjectives after watching his side demolish Aston Villa at The Valley.

After an early wobble, the home side were better than the visitors in every conceivable direction and deservedly ran out 3-0 victors.

For the duration of the first 45 minutes, however, the crowd were treated to a game of two halves, all contained within one.

Villa started at a gallop, finding their feet far more swiftly than the home side, and should have been safely ahead before Charlton launched their first assault on goal.

Just six minutes had elapsed when Darius Vassell, presented with the most glaring of chances by Nolberto Solano's cut-back, somehow conspired to send the ball thudding against the crossbar from just eight yards out.

Charlton, fully aware of the extent of their let-off, breathed a sigh of relief, but were unable to regain their composure, as Villa dominated the opening 20 minutes.

Thomas Hitzlsperger thudded a drive over the bar of Dean Kiely, and shortly afterwards the keeper was called upon to dive smartly at the feet of Carlton Cole, as Gavin McCann's through ball split the home defence in two.

Charlton's first moment of hope was also one of frustration, as Dennis Rommedahl failed to earn a 25th minute penalty after having his trailing leg clipped by Solano. But they were not to be kept waiting for long, as the tide turned in their favour just four minutes later.

Villa failed to deal with Hermann Hreidarsson's swirling left-wing cross and Francis Jeffers was on target with a fine header to mark his full home debut with a fine goal.

Just five minutes later, Jeffers was on target again, doubling the lead as he pounced beautifully on a horrendous defensive clearance from Villa captain Olaf Mellberg, slotting home a clinical volley from a dozen yards out.

If Villa had dominated the opening, it was Charlton who had taken their chances, and who suddenly occupied the driving seat very comfortably indeed.

Kevin Lisbie saw an opportunistic prod clip Thomas Sorensen's bar, before being denied bravely by the keeper on the stroke of half-time, in a challenge which resulted in Sorensen replaced by Stefan Postma, limping off with what appeared to be a knee injury.

Just nine minutes of the second half had passed before the new keeper was collecting the ball out of the net in much the same way as the old one had.

Hitzlsperger was the next to deflect a through ball into the path of a Charlton player, and the unlikely figure of Luke Young was the benefactor - sliding home calmly to claim his first goal on his 100th appearance for the club.

Any prospect of a Villa recovery was gone, as they went through their paces, looking almost shell-shocked at being blown out of a game in which they had once looked to have such a sure footing.

If Charlton's season has gone from disaster to triumph, Villa's, on the evidence of this encounter, is heading in precisely the opposite direction.